HEAVY BOMBERS NEEDED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 16 May 1941, Page 5

HEAVY BOMBERS NEEDED

BRITAIN’S COMBAT WITH U-BOATS REPORT BY U.S. NAVY SECRETARY New York, May 15. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says the Undersecretary of the Navy, Mr Forrestal, has returned from Britain and reported the results of his investigations to Mr Roosevelt. It is reliably learned that he said Britain’s greatest need is of heavy bombers to combat U-boats and thereby render American convoys unnecessary. She needs ships and also tanks, indicating that an invasion is still feared. Mr Forrestal added that the British morale was so high that an attempt to negotiate a peace would precipitate a revolution, and furthermore, public confidence in Mr Churchill is very high. The Royal Air Force has greatly improved its night defences and hopes to overcome the night-raid menace by bringing down 10 per cent of the raiders. “The Times” says Administration circles believe that 200 heavy bombers would permit Britain to smash the U-boats, and it is likely that such numbers can be supplied from America before the end of the summer.